Jockey Club Youth Football Leadership Scheme Opens Registration for 12th Edition
Bastillepost · 3 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago5 MIN
Summary
The Hong Kong Jockey Club has opened registration for the 12th edition of its Youth Football Leadership Scheme, a programme that has engaged over 540 young people since its inception in 2014 through a partnership with Manchester United and Tung Wah Group of Hospitals. The 2027 programme runs from January to June and offers teenagers aged 15 to 19 the opportunity to develop leadership skills through football-related activities. Six exceptional participants will be selected for an all-expenses-paid exchange trip to Manchester, United Kingdom, where they will gain firsthand experience of English football culture and community football operations. Alumni of the programme have gone on to build successful careers in football, including professional refereeing and coaching roles in the United Kingdom.
Key Points
- The programme is open to Hong Kong residents aged 15 to 19, with registration closing on November 29, 2026
- Six outstanding participants will receive HKJC sponsorship for a Manchester exchange to learn about grassroots football culture
- Activities include Manchester United Soccer Schools coaching workshops, dragon boat training, and leadership camps
- Since 2014, more than 540 youth have participated with 60 travelling to Manchester for exchange
- Former participant Jason Li Ka-yuen (李嘉源) now serves as an England Women's National League referee
Why It Matters
The programme demonstrates how sports can serve as a platform for youth development beyond athletic skills, fostering communication, leadership and teamwork abilities that translate into professional careers. For Hong Kong's next generation, such initiatives provide rare opportunities to gain international exposure and build global networks within the football industry, potentially addressing the territory's need for more qualified sports professionals and community football leaders.
The programme demonstrates how sports can serve as a platform for youth development beyond athletic skills, fostering communication, leadership and teamwork abilities that translate into professional careers. For Hong Kong's next generation, such initiatives provide rare opportunities to gain international exposure and build global networks within the football industry, potentially addressing the territory's need for more qualified sports professionals and community football leaders.